Lecture 6: Mass and Energy Balance

Conservation of mass and energy is the basis for

any considerations in combustion engineering.
Objectives of this introductory section are to:

 Analyse and compute the masses that go

into and out of the system during combustion
processes
 Analyse and compute the energy interactions
of the system and its surroundings during
combustion processes
Control Volume
For analysis of mass and energy balances in a
system, the control volume through which mass
and energy may be transferred need to be
identified.

Mass generated
Mass in Energy generated Mass out
Energy in Mass stored Energy out
Energy stored

Control Volume
With the control volume identified, the balance can
be formulated at an instant or over a time interval.

Mass and Energy Balance at an Instant

Mass and energy balances must be satisfied at any
instant, hence a law can be formulated on a rate
basis.
This means, at any instant, there must be:
Balance of all masses expressed in kg/s
Balance of all energy rates expressed in J/s (W)
The mass balance at an instant is:
𝒅(𝒎)
𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝒎𝒈 − 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝒎𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 ≡ (1)
𝒅𝒕

Eq. (1) is the most general form of the mass

balance at an instant. It contains the mass
generation term (𝒎𝒈 ).

Since matter and energy cannot be created or

destroyed, the term 𝒎𝒈 is usually zero.

It is non-zero only if nuclear reactions are

considered during which matter can be converted
into energy.
Since we are dealing with nonnuclear reactions
in this course, we will use the following equation
for the mass balance at an instance:
𝒅𝒎
𝒎𝒊𝒏 − 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕 = (2)
𝒅𝒕

Likewise, the energy balance at an instant is:

𝒅𝑬
𝑬𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬𝒈 − 𝑬𝒐𝒖𝒕 = 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 ≡ (3)
𝒅𝒕
 Mass and Energy Balance over a Time Interval
With this second option, the mass balance is
formulated in amount of mass (kilograms) whilst
the energy balance is formulated in amount of
energy (joules).

The mass balance over a time interval ∆𝑡 = 𝑡2 − 𝑡1

becomes:
𝒕𝟐 𝒕𝟐 𝒕𝟐 𝒅(𝒎)
𝒕𝟏
𝒎𝒊𝒏 . 𝒅𝒕 − 𝒕𝟏
𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕 . 𝒅𝒕 = 𝒕𝟏 𝒅𝒕
. 𝒅𝒕 = Δ𝒎 (4)

or 𝒎𝒊𝒏 − 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕 = ∆𝒎 (5)

The energy balance over a time interval will
be:
𝒕𝟐 𝒕𝟐 𝒕𝟐 𝒕𝟐 𝒅(𝑬)
𝑬 . 𝒅𝒕
𝒕𝟏 𝒊𝒏
+ 𝒕𝟏 𝒈
𝑬 . 𝒅𝒕 − 𝑬 . 𝒅𝒕
𝒕𝟏 𝒐𝒖𝒕
= 𝒕𝟏 𝒅𝒕
= Δ𝑬 (6)

or 𝑬𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬𝒈 − 𝑬𝒐𝒖𝒕 = ∆𝑬 (7)

Terms on the left represent the amount of energy

entering, generated and leaving the control volume
in the time interval Δt, while the term on the right
represents the energy stored or accumulated in the
control volume within the same time interval.
Under steady conditions when there is no mass
or energy accumulation in the system, we have:
𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕 (8)

and 𝑬𝒊𝒏 + 𝑬𝒈 = 𝑬𝒐𝒖𝒕 (9)

The purpose of making a mass balance under

steady state conditions is to calculate the out-
coming amount of mass and to calculate its
composition.
A correct mass balance is a prerequisite to a
subsequent energy balance.
 Example of Mass Balance
A boiler fired with methane is used to generate
hot water. The burner of the boiler is fed with 200
kg/h of methane and 4000 kg/h of dry air and it is
operated under steady state conditions.

Make the mass balance for the boiler assuming

that the combustion is complete.

Carry out the calculations using the molar flow

rates (kmol/h). Repeat the calculations using mass
flow rates (kg/h).
 Solution
Incoming and outgoing flows can be expressed
volumetrically (in kmol) or gravimetrically (in kg).

200 kg/h 𝑪𝑯𝟒 Combustion Products

Boiler
4000 kg/h air
Control Volume Boundary

We will assume that the methane burns

completely to 𝑪𝑶𝟐 and 𝑯𝟐 𝑶, and that the boiler
operates under steady state conditions.
Mass Balance in kmol/h
The incoming masses are:
200
Mass of 𝑪𝑯𝟒 = 200 kg/h = kmol/h = 12.5 kmol/h
16

By volume, air is 21% 𝑶𝟐 and 79% 𝑵𝟐 hence the

molar mass for air is:

𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒓 = [(0.21x32)+(0.79x28)] kg/kmol = 28.84 kg/mol.

Therefore:
4000
Mass of Air = 4000 kg/h = kmol/h = 138.70 kmol/h
28.84
The combustion reaction is:
𝑪𝑯𝟒 + 𝟐𝑶𝟐 -→ 𝟐𝑯𝟐 𝑶+ 𝑪𝑶𝟐
Therefore minimum air requirements is:
2
Min Air = = 9.5238 kmol of air/kmol of fuel.
0.21

Now, 138.70 kmol of air were supplied for 12.5

kmol of fuel. Therefore, the excess air ratio is:
138.70 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟/ℎ
12.5 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙/ℎ
λ= = 1.165
9.5238 𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟/ℎ

Since there is excess air, the products of

combustion will be 𝑯𝟐 𝑶, 𝑪𝑶𝟐 , 𝑶𝟐 and 𝑵𝟐 .
The products of combustion per kmol of fuel
burned are as follows:
𝑯𝟐 𝑶: 2 kmol
𝑪𝑶𝟐 : 1 kmol
2
𝑵𝟐 : ( 𝑥0.79x1.165) = 8.765 kmol
0.21
𝑶𝟐 : (2x0.165) = 0.33 kmol
Total products per kmol of fuel burned is
(2+1+8.765+0.33)=12.095 kmol.
Therefore, for 12.5 kmol/h of fuel we have:
(12.095x12.5)=151.20 kmol/h
Composition of the products would look like this:

Wet Products Dry Products

Product kmol/h Composition % kmol/h Composition %

𝐻2 𝑂 25 0.1653 16.53
𝑪𝑶𝟐 12.5 0.0827 8.27 12.5 0.0991 9.91
𝑶𝟐 4.125 0.0273 2.73 4.125 0.0327 3.27
𝑵𝟐 109.565 0.7246 72.46 109.565 0.8683 86.83
TOTAL 151.20 0.9999 99.99 126.19 1.0001 100.01
The molar mass of the products is as follows:

For wet products:

𝑴𝒘𝒆𝒕 =
(0.1653x18+0.0827x44+0.0273x32+0.7246x28)
kg/kmol = 27.78 kg/mol.

For dry products:

𝑴𝒅𝒓𝒚 = (0.0991x44+0.0327x32+0.8683x28) kg/kmol
= 29.72 kg/mol.
Knowing the molar fractions of the species, it is
easy to calculate the mass fractions of the
products.
For example, for the wet products:
0.1653𝑥18
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = = 0.1071
27.78
0.0827𝑥44
𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = = 0.1310
27.78
0.0273𝑥32
𝑚𝑂2 = = 0.0314
27.78
0.7246𝑥28
𝑚𝑁2 = = 0.7303
27.78

The same can be done for the dry products.

The tables below summarise the mass balances and
composition of the products of combustion
IN OUT
Species kmol/h Species Wet Dry
Methane 12.5 Water vapour 25
Nitrogen 109.57 Carbon dioxide 12.5 12.5
Oxygen 29.13 Nitrogen 109.57 109.57
Oxygen 4.13 4.13
TOTAL 151.2 TOTAL 151.2 126.2

Molar Fraction Mass Fraction

Species Wet Dry Wet Dry
Water vapour 0.1653 0.1071
Carbon dioxide 0.0827 0.0991 0.1310 0.1467
Nitrogen 0.7246 0.8683 0.7303 0.8180
Oxygen 0.0273 0.0327 0.0314 0.0352
TOTAL 0.9999 1.0001 0.9998 0.9999
 Mass Balance in kg/h
The incoming masses are:
Mass of 𝑪𝑯𝟒 = 200 kg/h
Mass of Air = 4000 kg/h
The combustion reaction is:
𝑪𝑯𝟒 + 𝟐𝑶𝟐 −−→ 𝟐𝑯𝟐 𝑶 + 𝑪𝑶𝟐
Therefore,
16 kg 𝑪𝑯𝟒 + 64 kg 𝑶𝟐 −−→ 36 kg 𝑯𝟐 𝑶 + 44 kg 𝑪𝑶𝟐
1 kg 𝑪𝑯𝟒 + 4 kg 𝑶𝟐 −→ 2.25 kg 𝑯𝟐 𝑶 + 2.75 kg𝑪𝑶𝟐
Minimum air required is (4/0.233) kg = 17.1674 kg
4000 𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟/ℎ
200 𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙/ℎ
λ= = 1.165
17.1674 𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟/ℎ

Note that λ is the same as when mass balance was

done in terms of kmol.

Also, since there is excess air, the products of

combustion will be 𝑯𝟐 𝑶, 𝑪𝑶𝟐 , 𝑶𝟐 and 𝑵𝟐 .
The products of combustion (in kg/h) are:

𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = 2.25𝑥200 = 450 𝑘𝑔

𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = 2.75𝑥200 = 550 𝑘𝑔
𝑚𝑂2 = 4000 − 200𝑥17.1674 𝑥0.233 = 132𝑘𝑔
𝑚𝑁2 = 4000𝑥0.767 = 3068 𝑘𝑔

TOTAL (wet) = (450+550+132+3068) = 4200 kg

TOTAL (dry) = (550+132+3068) = 3750 kg
The mass fractions of the species can be easily
calculated as follows:

Wet products Dry products

450
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = = 0.1071 ---------
4200
550 550
𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = = 0.1310 𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = = 0.1467
4200 4200
132 132
𝑚𝑂2 = = 0.0314 𝑚𝑂2 = = 0.0352
4200 4200
3068 3068
𝑚𝑁2 = = 0.7305 𝑚𝑁2 = = 0.8181
4200 4200
If required, the conversion of the mass fractions
into molar fractions can also be done easily.
For the wet products:
1 0.1071 0.1310 0.0314 0.7305
= + + + =0.0360
𝑴𝒘𝒆𝒕 18 44 32 28

Therefore 𝑴𝒘𝒆𝒕 = 27.78 kg/kmol

For the dry products:

1 0.1467 0.0352 0.8181
= + + =0.03365
𝑴𝒅𝒓𝒚 44 32 28

Therefore 𝑴𝒅𝒓𝒚 = 29.72 kg/kmol

Converting mass fractions to molar fractions of the species
we get:

Wet products Dry products

0.1071
𝑚𝐻2𝑂 = = 0.1653 ---------
18𝑥0.0360
0.1310 0.1467
𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = = 0.0827 𝑚𝐶𝑂2 = = 0.0991
44𝑥0.0360 44𝑥0.03365
0.0314 0.0352
𝑚𝑂2 = = 0.0273 𝑚𝑂2 = = 0.0327
32𝑥0.0360 32𝑥0.03365
0.7305 0.8181
𝑚𝑁2 = = 0.7247 𝑚𝑁2 = = 0.8683
28𝑥0.0360 28𝑥0.03365
The table below is a summary of incoming and
outgoing flow rates in kg/h.

IN OUT
Species kg/h Species Wet (kg/h) Dry (kg/h)
Methane 200 Water vapour 450 -----
Nitrogen 3068 Carbon dioxide 550 550
Oxygen 932 Nitrogen 3068 3068
Oxygen 132 132
TOTAL 4200 TOTAL 4200 3750